Williams Boulevard pedestrian improvements planned

A pedestrian study of a mile of Williams Boulevard in Kenner shows that many people walk or bicycle the road -- a dangerous prospect for a busy thoroughfare with no sidewalks or crosswalks. "It was painfully obvious that it is highly unsafe in the city of Kenner to be walking around," said Kenner City Councilman Joe Stagni, whose district includes that section of Williams Boulevard.

Brett Duke/The Times-PicayuneKevin Williams makes his way through the intersection of Williams Boulevard and Veterans Memorial Boulevard on his way to work in Kenner Thursday.

The study examined pedestrian and traffic habits and made recommendations for Williams between 32nd Street and West Napoleon Avenue, an area that averages about 41,000 vehicles per day.

"It's scary," transportation consultant Sharon Leader said of pedestrians who cross Williams without crosswalks. "You have to run across. We see people with baby strollers and seniors who are walking slowly."

Leader has obtained $470,000 in federal and state money for improvements between 32nd and Veterans. Plans include a lighted pedestrian path beneath Interstate 10, Leader said. Now, pedestrians don't have the protection of a crosswalk or traffic light to get under the highway.

The Williams intersection with the most pedestrians is at Veterans, which sees an average of 33 pedestrians an hour, the study found. Councilwoman Maria DeFrancesch paraphrased from an email she received from a concerned driver who called the intersection "an accident waiting to happen."

"He saw people running across the street back and forth because they couldn't make it all the way to the median," she said.

Leader recommends a mid-block pedestrian crossing on Veterans, but state transportation officials haven't signed off on it, she said.

Improvements on the first section of Williams could start within the year, Public Works Director Jose Gonzalez said.

Once improvements are made between 32nd Street and Veterans, the plan is to start making changes for the stretch south to West Napoleon, which requires mainly sidewalk improvements.

"It would be really nice to have a whole corridor where someone could walk and not feel like they're talking their life in their hands," Leader said.

Stagni said it's unsafe for walkers on Williams' shoulders to be so close to speeding cars. He said he's working to persuade businesses without sidewalks to install them now. Sidewalks are aesthetically pleasing, he said, and safer for walking than a road's shoulder.

Other council members suggested Leader look for federal money for other roadways, including West Esplanade Avenue, Rev. Richard Wilson Drive and Veterans west of Williams.

"It's money we send to Washington," said Councilman Kent Denapolis, who suggested West Esplanade. She told him that $500,000 in federal money is earmarked for the West Esplanade crossing of the Duncan Canal. A second site for possible West Esplanade pedestrian improvements is near The Esplanade shopping mall, so neighbors could walk to restaurants, shopping and movies, she said.

Councilman Gregory Carroll, who suggested Rev. Richard Wilson Drive, said Leader and Stagni have been working together on the pedestrian project since 2006.

"It takes time," Carroll said, "but the end result is that it's good for the city of Kenner."